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NIV is used unless otherwise noted.

The Underdog

But
he said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made
perfect in weakness." Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my
weaknesses, so that Christ's power may rest on me. That is why, for Christ's
sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in
difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong.

2 Corinthians 12:9-10

Why is it that we often
root for the underdog? We love to see the little guy in the football game make
the big plays. We enjoy watching the short basketball player fly through the
air to dunk. What about teams like the Bad News Bears? They were the definition
of a team of misfits who pull together to win. We enjoy rooting for the
unlikely hero.

Those who are not expected
to win in some ways don’t have as much to lose, so they play with all heart.
They give it everything they’ve got, and the celebration that ensues when the
underdog wins is like no other. Remember that National Championship game the
other night? The underdog pulled the win.

The Bible is full of
unlikely heroes. God uses those we wouldn't expect to make some big plays. We
immediately think of David and Goliath. But there are so many more! God used a
prostitute to help the Israelites move toward the Promised Land. God turned a
persecutor of Christians into a faithful preacher and teacher of His people.
Similar stories play out throughout the Bible.

Do you consider yourself a
hero? I'm guessing that you don't. We are more likely to identify with underdog
because we do not consider ourselves important enough or good enough to be used
by God. But isn’t that how God’s economy works? He uses us despite our
weaknesses. When we think it’s impossible is when God shows up to pull out that
win. And the glory belongs to Him alone.

God, thank You for using us and allowing us to be
used by You. We know that anything great that we do is only because You make it
happen. Thank you for our weaknesses because in these weaknesses, You are
strong.